Cold Won't Stick

I forced myself back asleep after waking near 4am and feeling completely rested,. I'll bet I woke three or four more times before getting up for good.  However, when I was finally  up for good, I had over slept by about ten minutes. Oh boy!

I quickly brushed my teeth and gathered my running attire. I was downstairs by 545am and engaged in sit-ups. I glanced out back after sit-ups seeing clear skies and plenty of stars. Yeah! I checked the temperature while enjoying coffee. It was 27 degrees but with the promise of the low 40’s by the days end. Expecting sunshine and the low 50’s on Friday. The cold just won’t stick.

It was after 6am in a hurry. I somewhat hurriedly read the Daily OM then got on with the rest of my morning, delivering Mindy’s coffee before doing a meditation. Meditation went well, but I kept it brief – only 8 minutes. Stretching went well too. I was dressing for my run by 630am.

With the current temp still well below freezing, I dressed in full winter garb. I was out the door around 635am. I ran the full 4.1 miles easily. Actually, it was pretty daggone nice out.

Mindy had Bella bring down the pug while I started the Pilot. And while it was still cold, it was far warmer than it was the two days prior. In kind, Eiknarf took a much more lackadaisical approach to our walk. I didn’t mind as long as she took care of her business, which she did.

Back in the house, Mindy had my eggs waiting in the microwave. She was already heading out the door. 730am was upon us fast. I fed Eiknarf some eggs then ran off to the shower. I was back downstairs ready to go by 758am. I spent the next few minutes prepping a light lunch consisting of the salad, cheese, fruit medley, and a banana. Actually, Mindy made the salad.

The kids were downstairs and ready to head out the door by 809am. I asked Bella to take Eiknarf so I could easily start and warm the Accord. She did so willingly. We met Chrissy and the girls at the bus stop. Chrissy shared that Jake was staying home ill. A few minutes later, and right when the bus pulled up, Makayla told her momma that she didn’t feel well, and then wouldn’t board the bus. Said she was dizzy. The bus went on without her. I carried her two book bags back to the house while Chrissy carried Makayla. I offered that if she started feeling better within the next five minutes that I could run her to school. Eiknarf and I headed back home where I made last minute preparations.

I left the house at 822am. It was a lovely drive into the office. I listened to XM clean comedy during my drive in. I parked in the main lot but still fairly close. We had a 9am staff meeting so I moved swiftly to get situated and organized. I was the 2^nd team member to the conference room. My boss joked as if this was my first day back from Xmas break. It was the first time I'd seen him but not my first day back. Perhaps he didn’t realize that I worked off site the day before. I didn’t bother justifying/clarifying.

The meeting went smoothly. No real surprises. Reviewed a couple policy changes and a few 2012 goals/targets. Probably lasted 30 minutes. A couple of us stuck around for a few extra minutes to chat after.

As for the rest of my work day, I planned on reviewing lots of trouble tickets for my monthly report. I had upwards of 25 trouble tickets I needed to read beginning to end. I wasn’t looking forward to it at all. I’m guessing I started around 10am and pretty much read & summarized trouble tickets for the rest of my day. I had to get up and walk around just to get the blood flowing in my legs.

Midday sometime, I called Pat Shultz having not seen or spoken with him for quite a while. We missed not spending New Year’s Eve with them. He was at his daughter’s place doing some work when I called. Said all was good. We talked about his son Max who works as a temp for one of my customers. Said he’s still there. Good. Asked what they did for new Year’s, or if they went back to Manhattan. Nope, went to another friend’s place. We talked for 5-10 minutes, agreeing to get together soon. Asked that he give Lisa our best.

I could hardly see straight after all the reading, and my mind was mush. I managed to plow through it all, choosing not to let it carry over into my Friday. Got to chatting with a peer at day’s end and the next time I looked at the clock it was 545pm. Mindy called to measure my arrival time. She was disappointed to learn that I hadn’t yet left the office. Said she picked up the boys and that dinner was ready.

I left the office near 550pm and made decent time getting home despite a huge traffic snarl on I-270. Traffic was either stopped or at a crawl in both directions a half hour earlier, but as I approached on the ramp it looked like the biggest slowdown was heading north. I could've bailed last second and taken the back through Mill Run and then south on Old Dublin Rd. but I opted for I-270 south, and it turned out fine. Mindy called again as I neared the intersection of Trabue and Wilson. She was pleased to learn that I was only a minute or two from home. I pulled in the drive way at 610pm.

The kids were being a little rowdier than usual, especially Rocky, who really fired up, a sure sign he isn’t yet taking his new meds. He was talking a million miles an hour and bouncing off the walls. Both he and Jacob were being PITAs. Mindy was busy serving up dinner when I complimented her brand new hair cut. Immediately after, Jacob took my compliment and made some rude statement. Add to that, all the others were complaining about their food. Mindy was soon frustrated and took her dinner plate into the dining room to eat alone. I found it somewhat amusing. Bella didn’t like it at all and tried to get up and join. I wouldn’t permit it. Nope!

Jacob & Rocky continued their negative banter all through dinner. And not one of the kids ate well, not even Landon who generally puts it away. He was the only one not having tortellini. Instead, he was having a leftover burger from the night before. He barely touched it, though.

All the kids were eventually excused from the dinner table still with lots of food on their plates. Mindy returned just as I was beginning the arduous clean-up process. And a bit later she shared that she didn’t appreciate the negative comment about her hair cut. What? Really? She clarified by saying that my compliment wasn’t genuine. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing and could only muster a laugh. Howin' the heck do I defend that? The answer? You don’t. I opted to simply let it ride.

I forgot to mention that I received an email from longtime friend David Waters sharing that he’d be in town over the weekend and wanted to hook up. I realize now as I am writing this that I forgot to reply to his email. I’ll need to call the number he provided once I am home from work Friday.

Lindsey arrived to pick-up the boys close to 7pm. She received some really good news this week at work. Beginning Monday, her schedule will change from MTTrFSa 1030am-730pm to M-F 730am to 430pm. Add to that, they've decided not to send her back to Sawmill Rd branch anytime soon. Instead, they're leaving her and her team at the Westbelt location, which is only a mile or so from her apartment. Those two things are big.

After the boys left, Mindy relaxed in the recliner. And while she reclined with the pug, I laid flat on my back on the living room floor. Felt great. Bella headed down to play with Makayla at 745pm. Mindy told her to be home by 830pm.  I'll bet it wasn't even 815pm when Mindy decided to head for bed. That's the early!

Just after 830pm she sent Jacob down to tell me to call down to Chrissy's and request Bella's return. Just as I was making my way to my cell phone, Bella entered from the deck. It was close to 845pm. She quickly readied for bed, but was watching TV from her room just like Jacob. I tucked in the kids then headed to bed at 930pm, which is early for me. Mindy was already half asleep. I laid there for a few minutes until it was obvious I wasn't ready to sleep. I got up after about ten minutes and headed down to the family room where I turned on the TV to watch an episode of How It's Made. I might've seen five minutes of programming before dosing off. I woke and headed to bed for good near 1015pm. Clear night and 3/4 moon.